Australia Country Code +61
Australia uses country code +61 with a modern closed telephone numbering plan. Standard landline and mobile numbers are written as 0X XXXX XXXX inside Australia (10 digits including the leading 0), or as +61 X XXXX XXXX for international use.
The four main geographic area codes are 02, 03, 07 and 08, covering the east, south-east, north-east and west/central states. Mobiles use the 04 range and must always be dialled with all ten digits domestically, while international callers drop the leading 0 and use +61 4….
Australia at a glance for callers
Where you’ll see +61 in practice
Country code +61 appears on everything from ASX-listed corporates and mining giants to universities, tourism operators and local tradies’ vans. You’ll most often run into:
- Sydney and Melbourne HQs using 02 and 03 landlines for sales, support and trading desks.
- Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide offices using 07 and 08 numbers for engineering, mining and energy projects.
- Mobiles starting with 04 for almost everyone – from freelancers and small businesses to delivery drivers and field engineers.
If you see +61 2 … the contact is normally in New South Wales / ACT. Codes starting with 3, 7, 8 and 4 indicate south-east, north-east, west/central regions and mobiles.
Language & communication style
- English is the working language across government and business.
- Email plus a direct phone number (often a mobile) is standard on business cards and websites.
- Australians are relaxed but direct: it’s normal to confirm details by email and then follow up by phone or Teams/Zoom.
- Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, sometimes SMS-only) are used, but less “default” than in many parts of Europe or Asia.
Because of Australia’s location, most international calls land early in the Australian workday or late in the caller’s evening. Always double-check time zones before scheduling calls.
Australia phone number structure (+61)
Australia has a closed numbering plan under country code +61. Within Australia, standard phone numbers (fixed and mobile) are 10 digits including the leading 0. From abroad you drop this 0 and dial +61 followed by 9 digits.
Landline patterns
Domestic long-distance: 0A XXXX XXXX
- A = 1-digit area code: 2, 3, 7 or 8.
- XXXX XXXX = 8-digit local subscriber number.
- Example (Sydney): local format (02) 9012 3456 → international +61 2 9012 3456.
- Example (Melbourne): (03) 9123 4567 → +61 3 9123 4567.
For international audiences, government style guidance recommends showing numbers as +61 2 XXXX XXXX, +61 3 XXXX XXXX, etc., without brackets or the leading 0.
Number plan snapshot
- Country code
- +61
- Trunk prefix
- 0
- Area codes
- 2, 3, 7, 8
- Mobile range
- 04XX XXX XXX
- NSN (typical)
- 9 digits (+61 X…)
The numbering plan is administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and follows ITU-T E.164 rules for international presentation.
Main geographic area codes
| Code (0A) | States / territories | Example landline |
|---|---|---|
| 02 | New South Wales, ACT | +61 2 9012 3456 |
| 03 | Victoria, Tasmania | +61 3 9123 4567 |
| 07 | Queensland | +61 7 3012 3456 |
| 08 | Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory | +61 8 9212 3456 |
Australia also uses non-geographic 13/1300/1800 ranges for shared-cost and freephone services, which typically cannot be dialled from overseas.
Mobile numbers: 04XX XXX XXX
Australian mobile numbers always begin with 04 in domestic format and must be dialled with all ten digits inside the country. Internationally, you drop the 0 and use +61 4XX XXX XXX.
| Prefix | Typical use | Example mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 040x / 041x | Common mobile ranges (historically Optus / Telstra) | +61 401 234 567 |
| 042x / 043x | Widely used across major carriers | +61 423 987 654 |
| 044x / 045x / 046x / 047x / 048x / 049x | Additional ranges for mobiles & MVNOs | +61 478 456 789 |
Due to mobile number portability, the first four digits no longer guarantee the current carrier, but they still follow the 04XX XXX XXX pattern for validation and formatting.
How to dial phone numbers in Australia
When calling Australia from overseas, the pattern is: [your international prefix] + 61 + national number (without leading 0). Inside Australia, you keep the leading 0 for long-distance and mobile calls.
From abroad → Australian landline
- Dial your country’s international prefix (e.g. 011 from the US/Canada, 00 from most of Europe).
- Dial 61 for Australia.
- Dial the 1-digit area code (2, 3, 7 or 8), without the domestic 0.
- Dial the 8-digit local subscriber number.
Example: calling a Sydney office at (02) 9012 3456 from Germany → 00 61 2 9012 3456.
From abroad → Australian mobile
- Start with your international prefix (011, 00, +, etc.).
- Add 61 (Australia).
- Take the mobile as printed (e.g. 0412 345 678) and remove the initial 0 → 412 345 678.
- Dial +61 412 345 678.
There is no extra “9” or other digit for mobiles – you simply drop the 0 and attach +61.
Dialing inside Australia
- Local landline (same area): dial the 8-digit local number only.
- Long-distance landline: 0 + area code + local number (e.g. 03 9123 4567).
- Mobile call: always dial the full 10-digit mobile (e.g. 0412 345 678), even from next door.
- International from Australia: 0011 + country code + number (or alternate carrier codes like 0015, 0018, etc.).
On mobile phones you can usually replace 0011 with “+” and dial +1…, +44… etc. as normal.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Do not keep the 0 if you add +61. +61 02… is wrong; it must be +61 2….
- 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers generally do not work from overseas; ask for a geographic (+61 2/3/7/8) or mobile (+61 4…) alternative.
- Some VoIP or PBX systems mishandle the space after +61; store numbers without spaces in your backend, then apply your preferred display format.
Time in Australia (AEST, ACST, AWST)
Australia spans three main time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST, UTC+10), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST, UTC+9:30) and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST, UTC+8). Several states also use daylight saving time, shifting to AEDT/ACDT in summer.
Standard time zones
| Zone | Abbrev. | UTC offset | Main areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | AEST | UTC+10 | NSW, VIC, QLD, TAS, ACT |
| Australian Central Standard Time | ACST | UTC+9:30 | SA, NT |
| Australian Western Standard Time | AWST | UTC+8 | WA |
There are also small special cases like Lord Howe Island (UTC+10:30 standard, UTC+11 in DST) and informal local variations in some border regions.
Daylight saving time (DST)
- Used in: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT, Norfolk Island.
- Not used in: Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory.
- Typical period: from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April (local law can adjust details).
- In DST:
- AEST → AEDT (UTC+11) in NSW, VIC, TAS, ACT.
- ACST → ACDT (UTC+10:30) in South Australia.
For scheduling, assume Sydney/Melbourne follow UTC+10 in winter and UTC+11 in summer; Perth stays on UTC+8; Brisbane remains on UTC+10 all year (no DST).
Emergency numbers in Australia
Triple Zero (000) and other codes
Australia’s primary emergency number is Triple Zero (000). It connects you to police, fire or ambulance and can be dialled from any fixed line, mobile or most VoIP/payphones.
- 000: main emergency number (police, fire, ambulance).
- 112: international GSM emergency number – works from mobile phones and routes to the same service as 000.
- 106: text-based emergency number for people who are deaf or have a hearing/speech impairment (via TTY/Textphone).
Visitors are advised to remember 000 as the primary number; 112 is a useful backup from mobiles, but 000 is guaranteed to work from fixed lines and public payphones.
Other useful Australian numbers
• 13/1300/1800 services: non-emergency helplines (government, utilities, companies). Many are domestic-only.
• 131 444: non-urgent police assistance in several states (varies by jurisdiction).
• Health advice lines: each state has an 13/1300-based nurse/health advice number.
For consular help (lost passport, detention, serious accident) contact your embassy or consulate in Australia. Most publish 24/7 emergency contact numbers on their official websites.
Example: calling +61 numbers from abroad
These examples use realistic formats. Replace the sample digits with the actual number you need to dial.
United States → Sydney office landline
011 61 2 9012 3456
011 (US exit code) + 61 (Australia) + 2 (Sydney/NSW/ACT) + 9012 3456 (office number).
United Kingdom → Australian mobile
00 61 412 345 678
00 (UK exit code) + 61 (Australia) + 412 345 678 (mobile number without the leading 0).
Singapore → Perth (Western Australia) landline
001 61 8 9212 3456
001 (Singapore exit code) + 61 (Australia) + 8 (WA/SA/NT region) + 9212 3456 (Perth business line).
FAQ: Australia country code & dialing
Do I dial +61 or 0061 to call Australia? +
Both represent the same thing – country code 61 for Australia. On most mobile phones you dial +61. On many fixed lines you dial an international prefix like 00 or 011, then 61. For example:
- Mobile: +61 2 9012 3456
- UK landline: 00 61 2 9012 3456
- US landline: 011 61 2 9012 3456
Should I keep the leading 0 when I store Australian numbers? +
For international-friendly storage (E.164 style), you should remove the 0 and store the number as +61…. For example:
- (02) 9012 3456 → +61 2 9012 3456
- 0412 345 678 → +61 412 345 678
In your CRM, you can keep a separate “local display” field with the 0 if needed, but the canonical version should be stored as +61 without it.
Why can’t I call Australian 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers from overseas? +
13, 1300 and 1800 numbers are designed as domestic-only shared-cost or freephone services. They are routed differently from standard geographic numbers and are generally not reachable from outside Australia.
If you’re overseas, ask the business or agency to provide a normal +61 2/3/7/8… landline or +61 4… mobile that you can call.
Is 000 the same as 112 in Australia? +
In practice, both numbers reach the same emergency call service, but they are not identical:
- 000 is the primary national emergency number and works from landlines, mobiles and most payphones/VoIP.
- 112 is the international GSM emergency number and works from mobile phones only, routing to the same service as 000.
The official advice is to use 000 while in Australia; 112 is mainly a compatibility fallback for mobiles (especially for visitors).
Are +61 calls and SMS often used for scams? +
Like many countries, Australia has issues with spam calls and SMS (e.g. “missed parcel”, fake tax office, investment scams). However most +61 calls are legitimate.
- Be cautious about unexpected calls asking for payments or one-time codes.
- Verify any claims (tax, fines, deliveries) via official websites or known numbers, not the number that called you.
- For suspected scams, Australians are encouraged to report via the government’s Scamwatch service.
Export Australia (+61) dialing data
Download structured data for Australia: area codes (02/03/07/08), mobile 04 ranges, AEST/ACST/AWST time zones, daylight saving rules and emergency codes – ready for phone validation, IVR design and CRM imports.